Initial Advice for Employees
Fixed cost legal advice when you need it most
Practical, jargon-free advice to help you deal with workplace problems the right way
For many employees instructing a solicitor is unfamiliar territory. You will understandably be reluctant to spend too much money before you know whether you have a case worth pursuing. But you have a problem at work, or have been dismissed, and need some clear and concise advice from an expert, and you need it quickly, so you know where you stand and what to do next.
Our aim is to make affordable, high quality legal advice accessible to you quickly. You will get clear, jargon-free, honest and practical advice, so that you have a better understanding of your situation and your options at an early stage.
What To Expect
Most of our consultations start with a phone call when you can tell us what problem at work has prompted you to contact us. We will ask you a few questions and guide you as to which of our services is likely to be most suitable for your situation. This initial contact costs you nothing, other than perhaps any call charges from your phone company.
Some clients may need a quick expert opinion as to whether they have a case worth investigating, or need advice as to what your employment rights are in a tricky situation at work. It may or may not be important for us to see one or more documents in order to best advise you. We'll be able to let you know if we need any additional information or documents in this initial call.
If you decide to go ahead with a consultation, we'll need you to send us any relevant documents or additional information, and let us know suitable times to contact you. We can guide you as to which service is most suitable, but our menu of 3 fixed cost options is available to all, to give you the flexibility and freedom to choose initial advice that best suits your needs, budget and time scale. Your solicitor will be given a written or oral briefing of relevant details from your initial call before they call you, and review any documents you have submitted. This means they can hit the ground running when discussing the matter with you and you get maximum benefit from the advice session.
During your call with your solicitor, you can expect clear, jargon-free guidance on the legal aspect of your situation, practical steps on how to proceed and whether you should consider investing in further legal support or if there are other options that may be more suitable for you. You'll also receive a follow up email with a summary of their advice for your reference.
In the majority of cases we can offer an advice appointment within a couple of days.
Initial Consultation - Short
£210 +VAT
1-2 page document review
25 minute call
45 minutes total
This option is not suitable if there are a number of documents for your solicitor to review, but they can pre-read one essential document or extract (no more than 2 pages) you may wish to send in advance of the call. This option is also unlikely to be suitable for more complex issues.
Your solicitor will call you for a telephone advice session of up to 25 minutes to discuss your situation and provide you with a brief preliminary opinion on your case and guidance as to your next steps.
After the call your solicitor will promptly send you a brief email summarising their advice.
Initial Consultation - Standard
£310 +VAT
8 pages of document review
45 minute call
90 minutes total
Your solicitor can pre-read up to 8 pages of relevant documents you may wish to send in advance of the call, e.g.letters, meeting notes, your contract of employment and a brief bullet point one page chronology.
Your solicitor will call you for a telephone advice session of up to 45 minutes to discuss your problem and give you advice on your case and guidance on your options.
After the call your solicitor will promptly send you an email summarising their advice.
Initial Consultation - Extended
£410 +VAT
12 pages of document review
1 hour call/meeting
Face to face or video call options
2 hours total
The advice session can be conducted by telephone, video call, or face-to-face according to your preference.
Your solicitor can pre-read up to 12 pages of documents you may wish to send in advance of the call, e.g. letters, meeting notes, your contract of employment and a brief bullet point one page chronology.
Your solicitor will call you (or meet with you) for up to 1 hour to discuss your problem and give you advice and guidance on your options.
After the call/meeting your solicitor will promptly send you an email summarising their advice.
Further Information
We encourage you to telephone or email us if you are unsure which option to go for, or to confirm your situation is suitable for this type of advice package. This enquiry is of course without charge or obligation. However, we can not give legal advice at this stage. Our regulators and insurers require that you become our client before we provide you with legal advice, but we can give you guidance on what level of advice your situation requires, and what documents or information we will need to review.
If you are ready to proceed with an Initial Advice package, please contact us to arrange your consultation. You can read the Terms and Conditions specific to our Fixed Cost Initial Advice services online.
The service I got was impeccable. Gillian gave very clear, concise and accurate advice at all times.
Bid Manager
Chepstow
What Happens After Your Initial Advice Session?
It may be that you can take the matter forward yourself, armed with the knowledge and advice we have provided;
You may have all the answers you need from your advice session and you decide to take no further action;
You may want us to advise you further or to act on your behalf.
Examples of next steps that we may be able to assist you with or do on your behalf following provision of Initial Advice include:
writing an effective Grievance or Appeal letter
initiating or handling settlement negotiations, via ACAS or directly with your employer
assistance with your application for legal expenses insurance funding
drafting your Employment Tribunal claim.
If your matter is unsuitable for one of the above Initial Advice options, e.g. if you have more extensive or complex documentation we should consider in order to advise you properly, or you require a longer telephone consultation or meeting, we can offer suitable tailored arrangements to you instead.
Initial Consultation Enquiry
Fill out our online enquiry form, or call us on 0117 290 0905 to get fast, clear and practical legal advice, tailored to your situation.
